Heavy rain all day, weather warning lasts through to early tomorrow

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A heavy rain warning, code Orange, remains in place today for the Gisborne-East Coast region.

Up to 7am this morning between 40 and 80mm had fallen over the region, with the heaviest falls in the Gisborne area.

MetService says the district can expect another 40 to 60 millimetres of rain on top of what has already fallen.

The warning covers Wairoa and Hawke’s Bay north of Napier, and for those travelling to the Bay of Plenty, MetService warns of strong south-east winds in the eastern ranges.

The rain warning lasts through to early tomorrow morning, with MetService expecting better and warmer weather by Monday.

Overnight State Highway 35 was closed between Tokomaru Bay and Te Puia Springs, but re-opened first thing this morning.

Contractors were out at 7am inspecting that part of the coastal highway.

“They were happy with everything and so they opened it up,”said a Waka Kotahi spokesman.

“But with the continued rain, we will be closely monitoring this section and all the roads in and around Tairāwhiti.”

The district’s rivers are up slightly, but the number of road closures from flood and slip damage remains at 58.

The low off the coast has produced increased swells, and the marine outlook for the Portland area forecasts rough seas and south-east swells of up to 3 metres north of Mahia.

A wave height of 4.6 metres has been recorded off Gisborne harbour mouth, and yesterday the wind gusted

to just over 60kmh at Gisborne. — RH